KE

Y F

IGU

RE

S*

gynecological examination kits

delivered to Donetsk and Luhansk GCA

calls received by the 24/7 toll-free National

hotline

cases of violence reported to UNFPA

mobile teams

emergency reproductive health kits delivered to

eastern regions

emergency service delivery points opened in hospitals of Donetsk

and Luhansk GCA

25,000 5,540 2,688 150 10

A UNIQUE SERVICE FOR SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL VIOLENCE SURVIVORS In March, UNFPA established the network of 10 Emergency service delivery points (SDPs) based on existing healthcare facilities along the contact line and places with concentrated IDP populations.

Emergency sexual and reproductive health service delivery points will be lo-cated within existing health care facilities and will aim to provide vital, inclusive, confidential, 24/7 access to good-quality sexual and reproductive health care free-of-charge to women and girls, as well as to survivors of gender based violence. UNFPA has trained the SDP personnel on STI/HIV prevention and STI syndromic diagnostics and treatment as well as comprehensive medical and psychological care and referral of GBV survi-vors.

*all data was estimated through February-March 2017

SAFE DELIVERY EVEN IN CONFLICTTo provide medical assistance in conflict areas UNFPA deliveres modern life-saving equipment there.

In February, the Fund provided 2 neonatal incubators, 4 fetal monitors, 1500 gynecological examination kits and 6 functional hospital beds to a maternity hospital in Rubizhne. Future mothers in Luhansk region may rest assured that highly specialized obstetric and neonatal care is available even during complicated deliveries, and most importantly, that assistance will be there on time.

If used immediately after birth, incubators help to significantly decrease the mortality rate of premature-ly born infants and infants with low birth weight. The ward serves as the inter-district obstetric hospital, se-lected by the Regional State Administration. The Fund aims to save the life and health of every newborn, even where there is a lack of care and quality equipment.

WATCH A SHORT-FILM ABOUT RUBIZHNE’S HOSPITAL ON UNFPA UKRAINE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN NEWSLETTERISSUE 06 | MAY 2017

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PARTNERS’ FIRST-HAND LOOK AT UNFPA HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

During 21-22 March, diplomatic repre-sentatives from Estonia, Austria, Norway, Canada and the EU visited medical and psychosocial facilities provided by UN-FPA in Donetsk region. During the visit, UNFPA donors witnessed firsthand the challenges of providing continuity of health and psychological help to GBV survivors and the most vulnerable wom-en affected by the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Donors met with UNFPA Psychosocial support Mobile Teams (PSS MT) that cover Sloviansk and Konstantynivka areas. This was followed by a visit to Donetsk Oblast Center of Psychosocial Support in Druzhkivka, where donors had a chance to meet gender-based violence (GBV) survivors and listen to their stories. The center, which serves the needs of domes-tic violence survivors, is a potential loca-tion for opening the 24/7 shelter.

Within the second day, diplomatic guests visited Pokrovsk Central Raion hospital, which provides maternal health services and assistance to GBV survivors. In Feb-ruary, the hospital was equipped with an incubator, fetal monitors, and reproduc-tive health kits that help to save lives of mothers and their babies. Additionally, representatives of the diplomatic com-munity saw the 24/7 shelter for GBV survivors that was opened by UNFPA in Kharkiv in December 2016. Based on the results of the shelter’s performance, Kharkiv Municipality committed to fund the shelter starting in 2018.

“It was both moving and heartwarming to visit the hospital in Pokrovsk where UNFPA is lending a hand in care for women who suffered from gender-based violence. Hearing the doctors describing how their own understanding of GBV has been changed through UN-FPA trainings is in itself a victory. I am so happy to know that UNFPA is supporting places like this, already painfully impacted by the nearby conflict, and helping to update not just facilities, but attitudes and practices as well.”

“Two days with the UNFPA in the East gave more insight into the importance of work-ing with GBV survivors. Through support to existing institutions, with capacity building and support to renovation and equipment, and through additional services like mobile teams, UNFPA, together with local authorities, professionals in hospitals and civil society, gives a supporting hand to people in need, and helps them become useful resources and important witnesses in society.”

“The field trip showed us the often not-spoken-about effects of the war in Eastern Ukraine. It is important to speak out and do something about GBV and its harm to individ-uals and society.”

“The field mission was very well organized and extremely important because it enables one to see the actual people substantiating the blunt statistics. The issue of gen-der-based violence in Ukraine is omnipresent and still unspoken about. UNFPA activities in the east are of utmost importance since they address acute needs of real people and provide men and women with the support and tools needed to overcome the obstacles despite the fragility of the region and lack of trust and hope. It is through multilateral partnerships and programs like this Ukraine can get a grip on the situation and take the necessary steps to solve the issue of gender-based violence.”

UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN NEWSLETTERISSUE 06 | MAY 2017

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Jennifer Cooper, Deputy Director and Chief of Operations, Development program, Global Affairs Canada

Petter Bauck, Counsellor for Development, Royal Norwegian Embassy

Agnes Zauner, Political Consultant, Austrian Embassy

Anastasiia Mykhailova, Project Coordinator, Humanitarian Assistance and Development Cooperation, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia to UkraineUNFPA UKRAINE

PARTNER’S IMPRESSIONS FROM THE VISIT: TO EASTERN REGIONS

EVALUATING THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF VIOLENCE

In fall 2016, UNFPA and the Ukrainian Centre for Social Reforms initiated an assessment of the eco-nomic cost of violence against women.

The study produces best estimates of lost econom-ic output, service costs and personal costs related to violence against women in the context of the national economy. The study will provide economic arguments for making violence against women a higher priority on national, political, economic and

development agendas, and for intensifying the societal debate on the unacceptability and eradica-tion of violence.

Currently, the report is being finalized and it will be publicly presented in May-June. The research is funded by UNFPA from the Department for Interna-tional Development’s (DFID) contribution towards the UNFPA humanitarian response programme.

PROMOTING GENDER BALANCE IN FAMILIES

The event was organized in the framework of the “Four Hands Happiness” project, in recognition of Interna-tional Women’s Day. Caspar Peak, UNFPA Represen-tative in Ukraine, opened the event and shared his personal experience of a year-long paternity leave. He emphasized that men and women must devote equal time to the education of their children.

A successful journalist working for “1+1” TV channel, Marichka Padalko, supported the project for the sec-ond time. She shared her secrets of a happy marriage and drew attention to the challenges of working moth-ers, striving to balance professional aspirations with personal life. This year the event was also supported by Vladislav Golovin, the founder of “The father’s club”. He led the push-up challenge (with children their parents’ backs!) and fathers’ hairdressing competition, and inspired others by personal example. Participants of the event had an opportunity to take part in the survey about gender roles and stereotypes in Ukrainian families.

Men’s active engagement in equal distribution of fami-ly responsibilities is vital for overall well-being. In order to promote men’s commitment to household duties and children’s upbringing, UNFPA organized a “Festi-val for happy families”.

UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN NEWSLETTERISSUE 06 | MAY 2017

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ENHANCING MULTI-SECTORAL RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Towards the end of March 2017, UNFPA Ukraine and the East European Institute for Reproductive Health organized a capacity development work-shop in Mariupol and an advocacy event in Kyiv.

The Fund brought together governmental coun-terparts from central and regional levels, civil soci-ety organizations, international agencies, donors, health care providers, police, social workers, and

other experts, where they had a chance to share best practices and experiences.

As a result, participants in the Mariupol workshop drafted an action plan for advancing multi-sec-toral response. The advocacy event resulted in identification of key measures to be taken at the national level to ensure prevention of GBV.

UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN NEWSLETTERISSUE 06 | MAY 2017

UNFPA MOBILE TEAMS BRING PEOPLE BACK TO LIFE - A STORY OF NATALIA

“On June 22, 2014, approximately at 12 p.m. my hometown was attacked by fighter planes,” Natalia recalls. “It was a typical workday. I remember our di-rector running into our room and crying “It’s started, did you hear that? Grab all you need and hide in the basement. They are attacking Pervomaisk!”

“It is difficult to describe the panic that spread through the town. Fear and despair seized our city - people were screaming, crying, and gripping each other’s’ hands. In one breath, I managed to take my passport, and I hid with my mother in the basement of our apartment block. There were around 20 adults plus their children. We counted the days, and from time to time we tried to go back to our apartments to get something to satisfy our basic needs.”

“Since the beginning of the war, my mother and I moved seven times. However, the fear was following

us; as soon as we got used to peace in a new place, explosions and gunshots arrived.”

“On 30 September 2014, I decided to go the local market to buy food with my uncle, cousins, and a few others. We were walking down the street when the clash started. It was “Grad” shelling, a type that can hardly be heard and arrives without warning: just a few seconds, a shock, and it’s on the ground.”

“I still remember the horror when I opened my eyes just few seconds after the rocket landed and saw my relatives scattered in different directions. My uncle was lying on me, dying. My body was mangled by the explosion. My left leg was literally held on by a small piece of skin. I can barely remember what hap-pened to me afterwards.”

“In the past two years, I have had more than ten sur-geries. With the help of compassionate Ukrainians, I was able to get an endoprosthesis (artificial joint), which helps my leg move in a more or less normal way. Thanks to my mother and UNFPA psychosocial mobile teams, I got my life back.”

Delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young persons’s potential is fulfilled

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Natalia is 34 years old. On September 30, 2014, her life was divided into a “before” and “after”; along with seven of her relatives, Natalia wit-nessed shelling from “Grad” rocket launchers and survived.

United Nations Poulation Fund Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Istambul)http://eeca.unfpa.orge-mail: eecaro.office@unfpa.org

United Nations Poulation Fund Country Office in Ukraine (Kyiv)http://www.unfpa.org.uae-mail: ukraine.office@unfpa.org